Edited:

will update after: 15 comments (with words, not numbers)20 votes. I put a lot of time and effort into these chapters and I feel that only a handful of people actually care that I do. I want you to tell me what you think about the story, or if you even like it. Please don't be a silent reader. The next update is up to you....

Published: Monday, December 7th 2015 1:38 pm

Ayah:
October 15th

          "No, no and no again!" I groaned in frustration while frantically pressing the delete button on my computer. For the last week or so, I've been trying to write some type of a story for my Wattpad account, but each time I come up blank. I can't even think of a topic. There are just so many to choose from, romance being last on my list. I like writing the genre and all, but there are so many romance books on the app that I didn't think twice about writing that idea off.

          Adventure. Now that is something new to me.

         "How's the writing coming?" Mama asked with a small smile, extending a cup of cocoa to me and sitting down.

         "Thank you," I gratefully took the cup and sniffed it, letting the smell of chocolate engulf my nostrils. A couple of days ago I picked up a cold, and the only thing that soothes me is this precious drink. That and it's one of my pregnancy cravings. "The writing is coming along slowly. The deadline for the entry is in three weeks, and I haven't got a single word written."

        "Well, don't give up,"She scolded, taking a sip of her drink, then shook her head in disappointment. "When you were younger you had all these amazing ideas that you would write down. I even still have those books."

         "You do?" I perked up, and she nodded. "Let's go get them."

         After we stood up and walked towards the garage door, I watched as her face fell as the door opened. The boxes were neatly packed in their original order, but you could tell they had been tampered with. When I did open them, I didn't even think to realize the kind of effect they would have on her. After all, she did keep most of them for over twenty years without being touched. Especially with the anniversary coming soon, it really wasn't the best time to snoop.

          "Mama..."

          "You opened them," Her voice cracked at the end as she stared at the boxes, her eyes glossy. I didn't know what to say at this point. All I could do was try to explain myself.

          "I was looking for things to do and came across them. I'm sorry. I should've asked first."

         "Yes, you should've," She scolded, walking over to them. I hung my head in shame. All the time I try to make sure my mother isn't upset by something I do, then I go and open boxes that are very precious to her.

         "But, I don't blame you for wanted to know their contents," She smiled slightly, then bent down and pulled a crate towards her and taking a book out and handing it to me. "Here. Here is the book."

       "Thank you," I whispered lightly and took it from her. The cover was slightly worn, the ink fading, but I could see a lot of the stuff clearly. "I'm so happy you kept it. I remember all the memories this book has."

        "Insha Allah it will help you now."

        "Insha Allah." As I saw that she was still sad and kept peaking at the boxes, I tried again. "Mama, I really am sorry."

        She nodded at me and pulled a couple of boxes and crates towards her.

       "I just need a minute alone right now, to think. You go ahead and write."

       "You sure?"

       "I'll be fine," She smiled in reassurance, but I could see that it was fake. "I'll be...fine."

       With hesitating steps, I left the room.

-*-

Jafar:

          It was just before practice as I marched down the halls, my anger rising. The place that I'm headed to keeps replaying in my mind as I think of all the reasons wrong with my brother.

          Detention.

         He's in detention for fighting, being disrespectful, not to mention late to class six times this week. And he owes this light punishment the principal, Mrs. Meyers, gave him a thank you. He could've been expelled if she hadn't understood his reasons for lashing out. That, and I vouched for him. But that's an outsiders point of view. Me of all people know what it feels like to be in Wasim's position, he just chooses to handle it differently. I'm not upset with him for being upset. I just don't like the way he's lashing out.

         At least he's keeping his grades up, I thought. If all else fails, I know how much he wants to leave this town.

        Once I finally made it to the right door, I opened it to reveal over a dozen students in here. Some were sleep, others were talking, and another handful just sat there quietly. None of them have tattoos or planning to smoke pot like some would think. They are just teenagers who got detention. Period.

         "Hey, coach," The detention monitor, Lyle, nodded up at me from where he sat on his phone. "What brings you to this neck of the woods?"

        "I need to speak to one of the inmates," I stated, eyeing Wasim who wouldn't even look up at me. "It's urgent."

       "By all means," He agreed, finally looking up from his phone to motion around the kids with his hand. "Take your pick."

      "Wasim," I called, and everybody stopped talking to stare at us. "Come here."

      "Why?"

     "Get up," I snapped and he rolled his eyes before standing up to follow me, a groan leaving his mouth.

       "Hey, coach," I turned back around to see the center of attention for talking waving at me, a smirk on his face. "I won't be able to make practice today."

      I sighed and turned back to Lyle. "I'll be back in a second."

     
      "Tell me why you pulled me out of the best class I've had all year."

      I shook my head in frustration and leaned up against the wall. "What's gotten into you, Wasim? Why are you acting like this?"

       "Oh, so now you care. It's a little late for that."

      I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

      "Now wondering what's been wrong with me. That's what I mean. I don't even want to talk about this right now. I'm going back in."

       "No," I held a hand out to him when he came to open the door. "No, you're going to tell me why you adopted this bad boy attitude of yours. I understand that everything with Abu is stressful, but--"

      "Why are we talking about him?" He snapped, and I raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about that lying, evil, man lying in a bed probably dying. Well, it would serve him right."

      "What is wrong with you?!" I exclaimed. "Why are you talking like this? A few weeks ago you were furious at me for not going to visit him, and now you're badmouthing our father!"

      "He messed up with me, Jafar. All of us. I'm just the one taking a different path."

        "But you don't have to!"

        He shook his head, a humorless laugh leaving his mouth.

        "So, I'm suppose to just go home and pretend everything is normal? He gets out soon, you know? And I'm suppose to take care of him like his personal nurse while my mother works her butt off trying to provide for us. Day and night, Jafar. I can't do that."

       "You're not in this alone," I assured him, my voice softening. "We're all here for you, bro. Just don't act like this."

       Wasim then slid down the opposite wall, a grimace on his face. I just waited for him to cool off. Only a handful of times has Wasim lashed out like this. Generally not wanting to go home in fear of facing him. Now it's even worse. He lied to all of us, and the youngest is hurt the worst.

        "We have a brother," He finally spoke, and I turned to him. "He lied to us for years and expects us to go about our normal lives. That's just the grand finale of his horrible parenting skills."

       I nodded. I was feeling the same way when I first found out about Luca, but I dealt with it differently. I didn't point fingers or just shut everyone out. I took a risk with getting to know him, and I don't regret it.

       "We met him,"I said and he looked up with a blank face. "His name is Luca and he's a good guy. He has flaws, but who doesn't?"

      "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

       "We tried," I told him and he frowned.

        "He's probably gone now," He let out a huff. "I don't even know if I want to see him. He's just his kid."

       "But that's the thing. He is our fathers son, but so are we. We are still related, no matter who brought us together."

       "Is he coming back?"

       "Not for a week or so. He had to go back to Italy."

       "He's Italian?"

      I nodded, a smile on my face.

     "Accent and all. If you're done imitating this person you've become, I could use my brother back."

       "Why? What do you need?"

       "Your grades are still up, right?"

      "Yeah," He nodded warily. "Why?"

       "Just finish out detention and meet me in front of the gym after school."

      "So, you're not gonna tell me why?" He whined and I shook my head.

       "Just meet me."

-*-

          "I know that you got me off the hook from head coach, coach, but why do I owe you?"

        I sighed for the twelfth--I've been counting--time as I walked beside Mua'dh to the parking lot. Practice just ended half and hour ago, and after coming up with an excuse for Mu'adh's absence to Jake, we are now going to meet up with Wasim.

        "Come on, don't I get one get out a jail free card or something?"

       I stopped in my tracks to glare at him. "You shouldn't need one in the first place. There is no reason why you need to be in detention almost everyday, not to mention missing practice or coming late."

     "About that. I was--"

      "I don't want to hear it," I cut him off, my voice raising. "And don't even get me started on your grades. They're horrible. So if you just close your mouth, walk, and listen, you'll understand."

       Once I made it to the parking lot with a Suprisingly quiet Mua'dh, I spotted Wasim leaning up against my car, a smile tugging at his lips. When my gaze followed to what he was looking at, I hit him upside his head. He let an 'ow' and I shook my head.

       "Next time lower your gaze."

       "I wasn't staring for that long."

      "Anyways," I rolled my eyes and took a step back, both boys staring at me for an explanation. "Wasim, meet Mua'dh. Mua'dh, meet my brother, Wasim."

       "We've meet," Wasim clarified and I smiled, watching as they both gave each other blank looks.

        "Great," I smiled and cleared by throats. "I have a proposition for you two."

       "What kind?" Mua'dh questioned as I glared at him.

      "That's what I'm about to tell you. Wasim will be your tutor so you can stay on the team, and if he doesn't," My gaze turned to Wasim who was fuming. "He will be suspended for his new record, resulting in a lowering of his chances of getting in a good school. No one wants a bad boy."

        "You've got to be kidding me!" He exclaimed in anger, and I just shrugged.

       "You don't have to give me an answer right now," I assured them both. "But, you do have to give one by the time fall break is over, a little less than two weeks away. But think about what's on the line boys. Basketball scholarship,"I I held up a finger, "academic scholarship," I held up another finger. "It's up to you."

-*-

          "You really tasked them both with helping each other?" Ayah laughed, taking another spoonful of our shared ice cream.

        "They were both so pisssd, but I needed to do something. This way they help each other, and me."

       "Do you think they'll accept the challenge."

       I nodded, no doubt in my mind.

       "If they both want a scholarship, yes. Life isn't always easy. Sometimes you just have to do the hard things to get somewhere."

       "How well we both know that," She breathed, and I nodded, agreeing with her.

       "So, how's your story going?"

       She smiled brightly at me. "How did you know about the competition? I was sure I had a good secret going!"

       "I didn't know about the competition. I remember you talking about it when I went to New York."

      "Oh," She laughed it off. "Just forget I said anything to you about it."

       My phone then buzzed, he looked at it, frowning, then he put it away.

       "Is everything okay?" She questioned. I looked up and shook my head with a small, reassuring smile.

      "It's just your Uncle Yaman. It's nothing major. But, anyways, I want to hear about your competition."

     She groaned. "It's just that, a Wattpad competition that I don't even think I'm entering."

       "Why not?"

        "Just reasons," She waved off. "No plot, characters, genre. It wasn't meant to be, I guess."

       "Will there be more competitions?"

        "Yeah, but I wanted to try it out before I blow up and will have to set my laptop on my stomach."

        I laughed and took another spoonful of our treat. "You'll blow up, in the writing world I mean."

      "You really think so?"

       I smiled. "I know so."

-*-
Random question: whose your favorite character (s)?

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